An artist's impression of a rocket. Credit: NASA
NASA awarded a $3.19 billion contract to build rocket boosters for future moon missions.
The new contract will allow for the production and building of twin boosters for the next six Space Launch System megarocket flights following Artemis 3, which will bring the program through Artemis 9.
SLS will make its first uncrewed flight in 2022, and is tasked with sending crews across the solar system, starting with missions to lunar orbit, the lunar surface or the planned lunar Gateway space station. The first landing mission is in 2025.
NASA's contract statement indicated that the award will help the agency plan and grow the Artemis program to meet future needs.
NASA wants to launch its 1st SLS moon megarocket in February.
The SLS booster manager at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama stated that the contract allows NASA to work with Northrop Grumman to evolve and improve the boosters for future flights.
The solid rocket boosters used to assist the NASA space shuttle during launches are the basis of the SLS booster technology. During the space shuttle missions, solid rocket boosters were used. ATK was initially called Thiokol. A series of company mergers in the last decade has given Northrop Grumman the technology.
NASA documentation shows that the SLS boosters are designed to be one-time use and include a fifth segment over the shuttle's four. The new contract indicates that more design changes are already underway for the ninth mission of SLS.
The Space Launch System rocket's stages are shown in a NASA graphic. The image is from NASA.
The company stated that the new boosters will replace the steel cases used for the shuttle with a weight-saving composite case and upgraded structures.
"This improved design provides process simplification, improved interface, and streamlined ground processing, which leads to greater productivity and efficiency," said Northrop.
Orbital ATK began test firings of the booster system in 2009. The technology for the first stage of the Ares rocket was originally intended to be used in the canceled moon-to-Mars program.
Since Orbital ATK's acquisition by Northrop Grumman, the lead manufacturer for SLS booster development has been the company.
This new announcement is the result of a NASA letter contract in June 2020 to provide funding and authorization for future booster orders. Boosters for Artemis 4 through 8 and evaluation of a new booster design for Artemis 9 are authorized by this.
In December of 2021, the company says it has finished booster production on Artemis 2, and that all segments for the Artemis 3 boosters have been cast with propellant. The segments started casting in November.
Other NASA contracts are being executed by the same company. The abort motor and attitude control motor are needed for the launch of the Orion spaceship.
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